Second Life Forums Archive - The Word of the Day

Pituca FairChang

Married to Garth

Join date: 17 May 2003

Posts: 2,679

02-20-2004 09:53

Word of the Day for Friday February 20, 2004

avatar \AV-uh-tar\, noun:
1. The incarnation of a deity -- chiefly associated in
Hinduism with the incarnations of Vishnu.
2. An embodiment, as of a quality, concept, philosophy, or
tradition; an archetype.
3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity.

In 1517, the year of their first contact, the Aztecs took
the Spaniards to be avatars of Quetzalcoatl, the plumed
serpent, god of learning and of wind.
--Paul Theroux, [1]Fresh Air Fiend

People . . . believe he was some sort of avatar of peace
and love, the ultimate hippie.
--Edna Gundersen, "For $60, a ticket to read," [2]USA
Today, October 5, 2000

It would seem that no definitive identification can be made
(Rimbaud the symbolist, the surrealist, the Bolshevik,
Rimbaud the bourgeois, the crook, the pervert, Rimbaud the
prophet, the superman, the mystic, Rimbaud the Catholic,
the cabalist, the atheist, etc.); the latest "proved"
avatar is forever recycled as evidence -- faulty or secure
-- on which to base the next.
--Richard Howard, "There Was Only One Rimbaud," [3]New York
Times, November 19, 2000
_________________________________________________________

Avatar is from Sanskrit avatara, "descent" (of a deity from
heaven), from avatarati, "he descends," from ava-, "down" +
tarati, "he crosses, he passes over."

_____________________

Oz Spade

ReadsNoPostLongerThanHand

Join date: 23 Sep 2003

Posts: 2,708

02-20-2004 10:31

Ooo very interisting. Thank you

Did that one guy then, instead of coining the term, just be the first to apply it to a virtual embodyment?

_____________________

"Don't anticipate outcome," the man said. "Await the unfolding of events. Remain in the moment." - Konrad

Snark Serpentine

Fractious User

Join date: 12 Aug 2003

Posts: 379

02-20-2004 10:42

Who is "that one guy"?

A quick search dates use of "avatar" in a virtual/computer context to the Ultima games (ahhh, the 80's) and some UNIX admin who thought that "root" wasn't colorful enough. Is there someone defined as first using it in a virtual-world context?

Merwan Marker

Booring...

Join date: 28 Jan 2004

Posts: 4,706

02-20-2004 11:08

In spiritual application, the Avatar is the manifistation of God in human form.

From the Encyclopedia Britannica, 03 Edition article about Meher Baba, who proclamed himself to be the Avatar of this Age:

"...that Vedantic term to mean the periodic incarnation of God in human form. He placed himself among such universal religious figures as Zoroaster, Rama, Krishna, Gautama Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad."

Interesting....

_____________________

Don't Worry, Be Happy - Meher Baba

Oz Spade

ReadsNoPostLongerThanHand

Join date: 23 Sep 2003

Posts: 2,708

02-20-2004 11:10

I'm not sure... I thought it was the guy who wrote the book "Avatars" but I think that came out in the early 90's so that would be too late.

_____________________

"Don't anticipate outcome," the man said. "Await the unfolding of events. Remain in the moment." - Konrad

Jake Cellardoor

CHM builder

Join date: 27 Mar 2003

Posts: 528

02-20-2004 14:37

This was discussed in an earlier thread:

/120/2f/6153/1.html

Neal Stephenson's _Snowcrash_ was published in 1992, and popularized the current usage of "avatar." For earlier uses in the context of VR worlds, see

http://www.digitalspace.com/avatars/book/chtu/chtu1.htm

http://www.kanga.nu/archives/MUD-Dev-L/2002Q1/msg00011.php

Oz Spade

ReadsNoPostLongerThanHand

Join date: 23 Sep 2003

Posts: 2,708

02-21-2004 14:23

Ah THATS the book I was thinking of.

ActiveWorlds used to have pictures of that book all over the place, never read it myself.

_____________________

"Don't anticipate outcome," the man said. "Await the unfolding of events. Remain in the moment." - Konrad

Snark Serpentine

Fractious User

Join date: 12 Aug 2003

Posts: 379

02-24-2004 08:57

Once again I get to blame George Lucas for something.

...

But that's pretty neat. Now I have to go back and reread True Names [and Other Dangers] and Shockwave Rider, early books that turned me on to the premise of presence in a virtual world. I have them in paperback somewhere...

Am I the only one who has trouble nailing down an avatar appearance/identity in online shared worlds? With my luck it's indicative of a deeper problem.

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The Word of the Day - Avatar

The Word of the Day - Avatar
Pituca FairChang Married to Garth Join date: 17 May 2003 Posts: 2,679	02-20-2004 09:53 Word of the Day for Friday February 20, 2004 avatar \AV-uh-tar\, noun: 1. The incarnation of a deity -- chiefly associated in Hinduism with the incarnations of Vishnu. 2. An embodiment, as of a quality, concept, philosophy, or tradition; an archetype. 3. A temporary manifestation or aspect of a continuing entity. In 1517, the year of their first contact, the Aztecs took the Spaniards to be avatars of Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent, god of learning and of wind. --Paul Theroux, [1]Fresh Air Fiend People . . . believe he was some sort of avatar of peace and love, the ultimate hippie. --Edna Gundersen, "For $60, a ticket to read," [2]USA Today, October 5, 2000 It would seem that no definitive identification can be made (Rimbaud the symbolist, the surrealist, the Bolshevik, Rimbaud the bourgeois, the crook, the pervert, Rimbaud the prophet, the superman, the mystic, Rimbaud the Catholic, the cabalist, the atheist, etc.); the latest "proved" avatar is forever recycled as evidence -- faulty or secure -- on which to base the next. --Richard Howard, "There Was Only One Rimbaud," [3]New York Times, November 19, 2000 _________________________________________________________ Avatar is from Sanskrit avatara, "descent" (of a deity from heaven), from avatarati, "he descends," from ava-, "down" + tarati, "he crosses, he passes over." _____________________
Oz Spade ReadsNoPostLongerThanHand Join date: 23 Sep 2003 Posts: 2,708	02-20-2004 10:31 Ooo very interisting. Thank you Did that one guy then, instead of coining the term, just be the first to apply it to a virtual embodyment? _____________________ "Don't anticipate outcome," the man said. "Await the unfolding of events. Remain in the moment." - Konrad
Snark Serpentine Fractious User Join date: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 379	02-20-2004 10:42 Who is "that one guy"? A quick search dates use of "avatar" in a virtual/computer context to the Ultima games (ahhh, the 80's) and some UNIX admin who thought that "root" wasn't colorful enough. Is there someone defined as first using it in a virtual-world context?
Merwan Marker Booring... Join date: 28 Jan 2004 Posts: 4,706	02-20-2004 11:08 In spiritual application, the Avatar is the manifistation of God in human form. From the Encyclopedia Britannica, 03 Edition article about Meher Baba, who proclamed himself to be the Avatar of this Age: "...that Vedantic term to mean the periodic incarnation of God in human form. He placed himself among such universal religious figures as Zoroaster, Rama, Krishna, Gautama Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad." Interesting.... _____________________ Don't Worry, Be Happy - Meher Baba
Oz Spade ReadsNoPostLongerThanHand Join date: 23 Sep 2003 Posts: 2,708	02-20-2004 11:10 I'm not sure... I thought it was the guy who wrote the book "Avatars" but I think that came out in the early 90's so that would be too late. _____________________ "Don't anticipate outcome," the man said. "Await the unfolding of events. Remain in the moment." - Konrad
Jake Cellardoor CHM builder Join date: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 528	02-20-2004 14:37 This was discussed in an earlier thread: /120/2f/6153/1.html Neal Stephenson's _Snowcrash_ was published in 1992, and popularized the current usage of "avatar." For earlier uses in the context of VR worlds, see http://www.digitalspace.com/avatars/book/chtu/chtu1.htm http://www.kanga.nu/archives/MUD-Dev-L/2002Q1/msg00011.php
Oz Spade ReadsNoPostLongerThanHand Join date: 23 Sep 2003 Posts: 2,708	02-21-2004 14:23 Ah THATS the book I was thinking of. ActiveWorlds used to have pictures of that book all over the place, never read it myself. _____________________ "Don't anticipate outcome," the man said. "Await the unfolding of events. Remain in the moment." - Konrad
Snark Serpentine Fractious User Join date: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 379	02-24-2004 08:57 Once again I get to blame George Lucas for something. ... But that's pretty neat. Now I have to go back and reread True Names [and Other Dangers] and Shockwave Rider, early books that turned me on to the premise of presence in a virtual world. I have them in paperback somewhere... Am I the only one who has trouble nailing down an avatar appearance/identity in online shared worlds? With my luck it's indicative of a deeper problem.